Donald Lee Willey

Donald left this earth to be with the Lord on February 7, 2016. Born in Ridley Park, PA, he was the only child of Algie Lee Willey and Grace Gladys Bethard Willey. Donald led a great and wonderful life. At the age of 17, he attempted to join the Army. If not for the intervention of his mother, he would have succeeded. Upon graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1946, he enlisted in the U.S. Army t and served in the 11th Airborne as a member of the Occupational Military Police in Japan, where he earned the Parachutist's Badge and Rifle Marksman qualifications. Upon returning home, he attended the University of Miami full time from 1949 to 1951. Donald's unit was activated for duty that January due to the Korean conflict. He attended Officer Training School and was assigned to the Third Armored Division Military Police as patrol sergeant. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on December 22, 1951.

Between times in the military he worked as a railway mail clerk between Washington, DC, and Philadelphia. He earned a Bachelor of Law degree from Blackstone School of Law in Chicago and then attended the University of Miami, earning a Bachelor of Education degree. Upon graduation he was hired to teach 7th Grade at Hialeah Junior High School, where he met and married the love of his life, his beloved "Tinker," Mary Hamilton Kniffin, on June 21, 1954.

In January of 1955, Donald accepted appointment to the Secret Service, serving the agency in Charlotte, NC, Cleveland, OH, The White House and Field Office, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD. He conducted investigations and security surveys and was part of a detail that provided physical protection for numerous dignitaries, including President Eisenhower, the First Lady, their children and grandchildren, the Queen of England, the King of Saudi Arabia, and Vice President Nixon.

He left the Secret Service in July of 1959 to serve as general manager/corporate treasurer of Kniffin Transfer Company in Miami Springs. In 1963, Donald and Mary welcomed their son, Thomas, into the family. Their daughter, Melanie Carroll joined the family in 1965. In December 1963, Donald joined the United States Customs Service in Miami. He conducted criminal investigations, enforced import/export regulations and law, developed training programs and was Senior Special Agent/Acting Deputy in Charge in the process of personnel and resource transfer during the formation of the Drug Enforcement Administration. He became Regional Patrol Director of the Miami Customs Region, managing and directing the U.S. Customs air, land, and marine interdiction program in the Southeastern United States, South Atlantic and Caribbean Basin until he retired in 1980.

Donald did not stay retired for long; he was Security Director for Mount Sinai Medical Center from April 1981 to August, 1981. A former Eagle Scout himself, he served as a leader in the Boy Scouts of America and as Security Coordinator for the BSA National Jamboree at Fort AP Hill, VA, in 1981 and again for the 1985 and 1989 National Jamboree's. He was self-employed as a Private Security Consultant from April 1981 to August 1983, when he accepted a position in the Metro Dade Police Department as a Police Planner. From 1983 to December 1990 he served in the Management Analysis Bureau and then joined the Accreditation Section to assist the department to earn international law enforcement accreditation, which it achieved in July 1993.

In August 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed Donald and Mary's home in Miami, FL. They relocated to Cooper City, FL, where Donald accepted the position of Accreditation Manager for the Cooper City Police Department, serving from January 1996 to March of 1998.

Don and Mary were active as docents at Miami MetroZoo. They visited many zoos across the country and overseas. They enjoyed several cruises and doted on their granddaughter, Melanie Carroll Simpson. Don was a perpetual member of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Florida, attending the Roe Fulkerson Masonic Lodge in Hollywood, FL. He enjoyed being a Shrine Clown, bringing laughter to young and old alike. In addition, he belonged to the American Legion, Post 0321, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the Association of Former Customs Special Agents and the International Police Association. Above all, he most enjoyed being a husband, father and grandfather.

He was predeceased by his wife Mary in February, 2004 and daughter Melanie Carroll in November that same year. He is survived by his son, Thomas (wife Anne) and granddaughter Melanie Carroll Simpson. Services for Donald Willey will be held March 5, 2016, at Fred Hunter Funeral Home, 2401 S. University Dr., Davie, FL, 33324. The viewing will start at 1 PM with services starting at 2 PM. Instead of flowers, a donation to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Donald's name would be deeply appreciated (http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/).